Are Running Shoes the New Designer Purses?

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There’s a new celebrity at race expos these days: the limited edition signature running shoe.

This year’s New York City Marathon will be remembered for its unprecedented and controversial cancelation. But at its expo – which did open on the Thursday and Friday before the race’s scheduled running date — Asics premiered not one but two race signature shoes, the limited edition GEL-Kayano® 19 NYC (“embellished with ING New York City Marathon® elements”) and the Limited Edition GT-2000™.

At the Nike Women’s Marathon in October, Nike premiered the NWM LunarGlide+ 4 NWM 2012 limited edition shoe. (I confess to immediately snagging a pair, thus far walked-in daily and with love.)

Pretty, and potentially profitable — if one was willing to part with the shoes without ever wearing them. At a little over $160 retail, a good selection of sizes quickly showed up on eBay, where most were snagged for at least $250 — some as much as $305.

Seriously, are running shoes becoming the new designer purses? They are “premiered” in “limited edition” – they even get their own Twitter hashtags, so those lucky to have bought a pair can use social media to brag about it!

And because I have the LA Marathon on my mind these days, may I nominate a contender?

From Newton Running. Perfect color combo, yes?

Would you ever buy a “limited edition” shoe branded with or around a specific marathon or other race?

BabyRuns has already written several emails to Santa, including one asking for these Ironman shoes:

[you know you’re lame when your kid’s talking about an Avenger and you’re thinking, triathlon.]

Today’s run:

Another track workout; after the 5-4-3-2-1 intervals of last week, these seemed easy. A 10-minute warm-up, followed by 2 minutes fast twice; then 4 minutes fast twice; two-minute breaks in between. Close with a 10-minute cool-down. Piece-a-cake! (Mmmm, could have some right now.)

4 thoughts on “Are Running Shoes the New Designer Purses?

  • February 8, 2017 at 3:44 am
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    I must confess that even though I am a runner and have been one for more than 5 years, I still get tempted to purchase running shoes based on their looks sometimes. Of course, i don’t underestimate the comfort, support and cushioning they provide, but I must say – the look is important for me. I think that runners becoming fashion statements could be a positive phenomenon, if it popularizes running and makes more people run, so why not!

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  • September 9, 2016 at 3:19 am
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    Runners are becoming a fashion statement right now. With Nike and Adidas competing in the Lifestyle Running department, runners are getting more stylish now. I welcome this fact so long as they don’t forget the function of runners.
    Dan Chabert recently posted…Merrell All Out Peak ReviewMy Profile

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  • Pingback: La Expo Day | Confessions of a Caffeinated Mother Runner

  • November 16, 2012 at 7:37 am
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    Those Tiffany shoes are amazing, I would definitely WANT to shell out for those! apart from that, I think I’d resist the lure of new shoes unless I was actually in the market for them, in which case, I could be tempted!!

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